Signal



. March 23, 1937 K. J. MISLIN SIGNAL Filed June 10, 1935 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE SIGNAL r Karl J.Mislin, Kansas City, Mo.

Application June 10, 1935, Serial No. 25,841 4 Claims. (01. 117-339)This invention relates to signal structures of the type wherein it isdesired to present visible indicia and wherein is employed a reflectingsurface disposed at an angle so that the remaining and associated partsof the signal will operate therewith in a simple, novel and effectivemanner.

One of the important aims of this invention is to provide a signalhaving as a part thereof, an unique case or housing which is providedwith a plurality of compartments, all having panels forming one wallthereof which are positioned so that the indicia on said panels arereflected from a suitable surface that is a part of the housing per se.

Another object of this invention is to provide a signal having uniqueelectrical circuits wherein is disposed means for making and breakingthe circuits at desired times and means for indicating that any electriclamps within the circuits are inoperative.

A yet further object of the invention is the provision of signalstructure of the type that is especially adapted for use in indicatingthe direction of turn which an automobile is about to make and havingmeans for making and breaking the circuits both manually andautomatically so that after the turn has been made, the signal will berendered inoperative.

A large number of minor objects of the invention will appear during thecourse of the following specification, referring to the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a signal housing and associated partsmade in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through the same.

Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of the steering wheel of an automobile,showing the same equipped with one of the switches forming a part of thesignal structure.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the steering wheel showing the switchoperating members in place, and,

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram illustrative of the electrical circuits thatmay be employed in the signal.

Signal structures such as this invention contemplates may be employed asindicating signals on automobiles. as trafiic signal devices, andwherever it is desired to employ a visible signal that is actuated bythe making and breaking of an electric circuit, the novel feature of thesignal housing being the inclusion of the uniquely disposed reflector orreflectors which serve to render the otherwise invisible indicia visiblewhen appropriate electric lamps are burning.

In the drawing, the invention is embodied in an automobile directionsignal and the housing 8 is partitioned as at ill to provide two maincompartments l2 and I4 that are bottomed by panels l8 and I8, havingformed thereon indicia 20 in the nature of arrows which point inopposite directions, as shown. Any other character of indicia might becreated on panels l8 and I8 so long as the same visibly indicate to theobserver of the signal the message which the user thereof desires toconvey. A supplemental compartment 22 forms a part of housing 8 and inthe operation of the signal, is common to both compartments l2 and i4 inso far as the lights therein are concerned. 'Panels l8 and I8 should beinclined or angled out of the horizontal so that the images of theindicia 20 are reflected from substantially the same area of a reflector24. This reflector 24 is angled so that when the housing 8 is secured tothe-automobile, those approaching the same will be able to see the imageof the indicia whenthe appropriate lights within the housing 8 areburning.

Supplemental compartment 22 has a panel 26 forming the bottom thereofand the word "turn is the indicia 28 that is formed to be reflected fromreflector 24 when either one of the two light bulbs 30 and 32 insupplemental compartment 22 is burning.

When this signal casing is used on the rear of the automobile, it isdesirable to include therein a small window 84 that serves as a taillight when bulb 36 is burning. Another window 38 is provided to serve asa stop light when electric bulb 4B is burning. These windows 34 and 38are disposed on each side of a central area upon reflector 24 andbecause of the angularity of panels l8 and I8, any reflected imagesoriginating on said panels will be between tail light and stop 40 lightwindows 34 and 38 respectively. It will be observed that when the lights30 and 32 are burning the word turn is reflected from a place on thereflector immediately adjacent to the zone thereon, from which indicia20 are reflected.

It is desirable when using this signal on automobiles to indicate thedirection of turn prior to the actual turning and then to automaticallycut off the indicating signal after the turn has been made. To do this,the invention provides an unique switch 42 shown diagrammatically 'inFig. 5 and arranged to make and break circuits as hereinafter set down.This switch may be aflixed to the steering column 44 and its arm 46should have opposed, laterally extending throw bars 48 that areengageable by cams 68 carried by some part of the steering wheel. Theactual operation of this structure is unique in that when the throw bars48 have been man- 5 ually moved to a right or a left position indicatedby dotted lines in Fig. 4 the switch is closed.

Cam 58 will thereafter be depressed by bar 48 as the wheel is beingturned in one direction to steer the automobile to the right or left asthe case maybe. A spring 52 returns the respective cam 58 after it hasbeen depressed and after the bar 48 has passed it and when the wheel isreturned, inclined end 64 will engage throw bar 48 to force it back tothe switch opening position.

Since the electrical circuits employed in this signal are important andsince it is an object of the invention to provide an audible signal toindicate when the electric lamps in the system have failed, referencewill now be had to the diagram- 20 matical illustration of the circuitsand the like that are best suited for use in the system.

Where the tail light 86 is employed, an ordinary switch 56 is used andthe circuit which closes this lamp is from ground G, battery B, 25 wire.58, light 36' and wire 68, back to the ground G.

Stop light 48 should be operated as the driver uses the brake of his carand the brake pedal 62 forms a switch opening element so that when the 3said switch is closed, the circuit through stop light 48 is as follows:ground G battery B, wire 64, wire 66, closed switch 68, bulb 48 and wire18.

Assuming now that it is desired to indicate a right turn, bulb 12 incompartment I2 will be 35 placed in circuit by the throwing of switch 42where switch point 14 is in contact with switch point I6, switch pointI8 is in contact with point 88 and switch point 82 is in contact withpoint 84. With the switch in this position, the circuit is as follows:from ground G through battery B, wire 64, closed points 88 and 18 and I4and 16, wire 86', coil 88, wire 98, closed points 82 and 84', wire 82,wire 94-,bulb I2 to the ground. Bulb 38 is simultaneously lit becausewire 98 connects wire 92 and bulb 38 is grounded.

When switch 42 is thrown to indicate a left turn, switch points 98 andI88 are together as are switch points I82 and I84 and I86 and I88.

The circuit through bulbs 32 and H8 may be traced as follows: battery Bwhich is grounded, wire 64, closed points I84 and I 82, closed pointsI86 and I88, wire 86, coil 88, wire 98, closed points 98 and I88, wireII2, to bulbs 32 and 8 respectively and thence to the ground.

The strength of the current passing through coil 88 when the lights arein workable condition is strong enough to set up a magnetic pull uponarmature II4 that will overcome the tension of spring II6 to the extentthat points H8 and I28 are held apart. If a bulb burns out, this mag.-netic force is decreased immediately and spring II6 draws switch pointII8 against point I28. Buzzer I22 will then be in the circuit regardlessof which way switch 42 is set because wire I24 joins the common wire 86and from this point the circuit is completed through closed points H8and I28, wire I26, buzzer I22 and wire I28 to the ground. Obviously, thebuzzer will be actuated to indicate that one of the bulbs, which theoperator cannot see, is not functioning.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a signal of the character described having an inclined reflectorforming one wall thereof, a housing having a partition dividing the sameinto a plurality of compartments; panels having appropriate indiciathereon closing one side of the compartments respectively; andilluminating means within each compartment respectively; all of saidpanels being disposed so that the image of the indicia of the respectivepanels is reflected from the reflector when the illuminating means inthe compartments is in operation, certain of said panels being disposedat an angle whereby the images of the indicia of said panels arereflected from substantially the same area of said reflector when thesignal is operated, said housing having a supplemental compartmenttherein provided with illuminating means and an indicia-bearing panel,the image of the indicia of the supplemental compartment being reflectedfrom a zone immediately adjacent the zone of the reflector reflectingthe imaged the indicia'of the aforesaid angled panels.

2'. In a signal of the character described having a reflector a housinghaving a partition dividing the same into two compartments; inclinedpanels forming the sides of a triangle and each having indicia thereinclosing the lower sides of the compartments; a supplemental compartmentadjacentthe first mentioned compartments having indicia formed in oneside thereof; whereby the images of the respectiveindicia may all becast upon the reflector; and an electric lamp in each compartmentrespectively.

3. In a signal of the character described. an inclined reflector; *ahousing having a plurality of inclined panels overhanging the saidreflector; indicia formed in said inclined panels; electric lamps withinthe housing to cause the images of said indicia to be reflected from thesaid reflector; windows formed in said reflector to one side of theimages of the indicia that are reflected therefrom and illuminatingmeans behind said windows.

4. In a signal of the character described having a plurality of panelswith indicia formed therein; a panel to reflect the indicia havingwindows formed therethrough; and illuminating means behind said windows.

KARL J. MISLIN.

